Furthermore for those that are saying they haven't been to Alabama, so what???What about the Halloween episode at Auburn that made a mockery of a prestigious black fraternity?Who hasn't heard what life is like in Alabama?
Okay.... here are my two cents:
I am a native of Alabama and a member of the group of women dedicated to bringing a multi-cultural sorority to the University of Alabama.
I know there are A LOT of stereotypes about southern life, especially life in Alabama. It is unfortunate that the ignorant actions of few reflect poorly and seem to suggest the views of all. I am not saying the south is an Utopia of racial harmony. What I am saying is that racial inclusiveness is a reality and happens everyday in the south... in Alabama.... on the campus of the UA.
You CAN NOT base the actions of a small group of people and label everyone racist. It is unfair. It is untrue.
On a separate note, the women in this sorority know we face some barriers. There are people on our campus who doubt us. There are some of you here at this site that doubt us. That's okay. We're cool with that. We just can't wait to prove EVERYONE wrong. To those who have sent us well-wishes and support, we thank you! It means a lot to us!
Let me clarify one thing: we are not trying to eradicate racism on our campus. We saw a need that was unmet. We met so many women who felt discouraged concerning joining a sorority based on their class standing, race, religion, etc.
This group was started to let every woman on campus know that there is a place for them in the greek system here at the Capstone. It shouldn't matter if you aren't blonde, blue-eyed or if your parents don't hold country club memberships. It shouldn't matter if you're a transfer student or a junior. We wanted to break down that unseen barrier.
We have and never will say that the women who choose to join NPC sororities are racist. Just as the incident at Auburn illustrates, there are "bad apples" in every bunch.
I know several women who are in NPC sororities and I know them to be kind, intelligent, warm and decent individuals. I know that in the face of tradition, it is hard to go against the grain.
There is a refrain from a very famous song. It speaks of change. It states that change is a long time coming. This is true about integration of the greek community here at the Capstone. Steps are being taken. One day it will become a reality.